94.4% of aged care workers had received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on 14 September, according to Federal Government data supplied by providers, leaving more than 22,500 unvaccinated with the mandate deadline on Friday, despite calls from the nurses’ union to extend the vaccination push for two weeks.
The latest data shows that Western Australia with 92.6% and Queensland with 93% of workers receiving one dose have the lowest take-up.
The Federal Government’s coronavirus vaccination taskforce, Operation COVID Shield, said it has identified providers with unvaccinated workers and is sending vaccination teams to these facilities.
Aged Care Services Minister, Senator Richard Colbeck said the Government was prepared to provide backup workers but statistics and feedback from the sector showed they would be needed in only a few workplaces. He noted the data showing providers lagging could be due to reporting delays or data quirks and said compliance checks would not begin until next Wednesday.
Health Minister Greg Hunt, speaking on Sunday, was confident there would be an eleventh-hour “uptick” for the sector, with National Cabinet to consider the final outcome of the mandate tomorrow (Friday).
